The curious popular error, that the Barnacle contained the young of
a species of goose, which was thence called the Barnacle Goose, has
lasted for many ages, and still prevails among the uneducated, on the
shores of many of the European seas. One reason of the continuance of
this error in several Roman Catholic countries, is the permission
granted by the priest to its members, to eat this goose on fish-days,
because it is considered, on account of its supposed watery origin, to
partake more of the character of a fish than a fowl. To show the extent
to which an erroneous belief may be carried, we may quote the following
notice sent by Sir Robert Moray to the Royal Society, and _printed_ by
them in their _Transactions_. He says, “The pedicle seems to draw and
convey the matter which serves for the growth and vegetation of the
shell and the little bird within it.” “In every shell that I opened, I
found a perfect _sea-fowl_; the little bill like that of a _goose_, the
eyes marked; the head, neck, breast, wings, tail, and feet formed; the
feathers everywhere perfectly shaped, and blackish-coloured; and the
_feet_ like those of other water-fowl, to my best remembrance!” “Nor
did I ever see any of the little birds alive, nor met with anybody that
did; only some credible persons have assured me that they have seen
some as big as their fist!!”
[Illustration: _Anatifa lævis._]
_ORDER CIRRHIPEDA SEDENTARIA_,
(_Sedentary Cirrhipeds_.)